Aiming at the shortcomings of single-sensor sensing information characterization ability, which is easily interfered with by external environmental factors, a method of intelligent perception is proposed in this paper. This method integrates multi-source and multi-level information, including spindle temperature field, spindle thermal deformation, operating parameters, and motor current. Firstly, the internal and external thermal-error-related signals of the spindle system are collected by sensors, and the feature parameters are extracted; then, the radial basis function (RBF) neural network is utilized to realize the preliminary integration of the feature parameters because of the advantages of the RBF neural network, which offers strong multi-dimensional solid nonlinear mapping ability and generalization ability. Thermal-error decision values are then generated by a weighted fusion of different pieces of evidence by considering uncertain information from multiple sources. The spindle thermal-error sensing experiment was based on the spindle system of the VMC850 (Yunnan Machine Tool Group Co., LTD, Yunnan, China) vertical machining center of the Yunnan Machine Tool Factory. Experiments were designed for thermal-error sensing of the spindle under constant speed (2000 r/min and 4000 r/min), standard variable speed, and stepped variable speed conditions. The experiment’s results show that the prediction accuracy of the intelligent-sensing model with multi-source information fusion can reach 98.1%, 99.3%, 98.6%, and 98.8% under the above working conditions, respectively. The intelligent-perception model proposed in this paper has higher accuracy and lower residual error than the traditional BP neural network perception and wavelet neural network models. The research in this paper provides a theoretical basis for the operation, maintenance management, and performance optimization of machine tool spindle systems. Full article

The present study investigated the mediating effects of emotional intelligence and self-esteem between youth sports participation and life satisfaction, as well as the comparative effects of different types of sports involvement (team, individual, and non-participation) on these selected variables. A sample of 1053 Portuguese adolescents (612 girls and 441 boys), aged between 12 and 18 years (M = 14.40; SD = 1.55), completed the following self-report measures: the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The structural equation modeling results indicated a complete mediating role of two emotional intelligence dimensions (use of emotion and self-emotional appraisal) and self-esteem in the relationship between sports participation and adolescents’ life satisfaction. Team sport participants reported higher emotional intelligence and self-esteem scores than their non-sport participant counterparts who revealed lower levels of emotion use than their individual sport participant peers. These findings provide novel insights into the potential emotional and psychological mechanisms underlying the association between youth sports participation and life satisfaction. Full article

This study introduces a novel framework, “Comprehensive Optimization and Refinement through Ensemble Fusion in Domain Adaptation for Person Re-identification (CORE-ReID)”, to address an Unsupervised Domain Adaptation (UDA) for Person Re-identification (ReID). The framework utilizes CycleGAN to generate diverse data that harmonize differences in image characteristics from different camera sources in the pre-training stage. In the fine-tuning stage, based on a pair of teacher–student networks, the framework integrates multi-view features for multi-level clustering to derive diverse pseudo-labels. A learnable Ensemble Fusion component that focuses on fine-grained local information within global features is introduced to enhance learning comprehensiveness and avoid ambiguity associated with multiple pseudo-labels. Experimental results on three common UDAs in Person ReID demonstrated significant performance gains over state-of-the-art approaches. Additional enhancements, such as Efficient Channel Attention Block and Bidirectional Mean Feature Normalization mitigate deviation effects and the adaptive fusion of global and local features using the ResNet-based model, further strengthening the framework. The proposed framework ensures clarity in fusion features, avoids ambiguity, and achieves high accuracy in terms of Mean Average Precision, Top-1, Top-5, and Top-10, positioning it as an advanced and effective solution for UDA in Person ReID. Full article

The etiology of the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is complex and considered multifactorial. The majority of ALS cases are sporadic, but familial cases also exist. Estimates of heritability range from 8% to 61%, indicating that additional factors beyond genetics likely contribute to ALS. Numerous environmental factors are considered, which may add up and synergize throughout an individual’s lifetime building its unique exposome. One level of integration between genetic and environmental factors is epigenetics, which results in alterations in gene expression without modification of the genome sequence. Methylation reactions, targeting DNA or histones, represent a large proportion of epigenetic regulations and strongly depend on the availability of methyl donors provided by the ubiquitous one-carbon (1C) metabolism. Thus, understanding the interplay between exposome, 1C metabolism, and epigenetic modifications will likely contribute to elucidating the mechanisms underlying altered gene expression related to ALS and to developing targeted therapeutic interventions. Here, we review evidence for 1C metabolism alterations and epigenetic methylation dysregulations in ALS, with a focus on the impairments reported in neural tissues, and discuss these environmentally driven mechanisms as the consequences of cumulative exposome or late environmental hits, but also as the possible result of early developmental defects. Full article

Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), as the earliest oil and fiber crop, is a model plant for genetic inferences of plant domestication processes involving multiple domestication events. However, a puzzle has emerged from several genetic studies, as dehiscent cultivated flax is genetically more related to its progenitor pale flax (L. bienne Mill.), and winter cultivated flax is well mixed with oil or fiber cultivated flax, while capsular dehiscence and winter hardiness are the major characteristics of pale flax. For this, a comparative analysis was conducted with 16 Linum samples representing pale flax and four domestication groups of cultivated flax (oil, fiber, winter, and dehiscent) using 454 pyrosequencing, Sanger resequencing and microsatellite data. It was found that the genomic sampling of genetic variants from the three applied methods yielded similar genetic information on pale flax and four groups of cultivated flax. The revealed genetic relationships did not show significant departures from the previous findings, but instead supported an early, independent domestication of a primitive flax lineage for oil use, followed by a subsequent flax domestication process with multiple domestication events for capsular dehiscence, oil, fiber and winter hardiness. Domestication on capsular dehiscence occurred earlier than domestication on winter hardiness. Domestication on winter hardiness was more complicated than domestication on capsular dehiscence. Full article

Focusing on sustainability, the new Common Agricultural Policy (2023–2027) sets ambitious goals for water management, as reducing irrigation water use is a vital issue. Cooperation among farmers, relevant authorities, and researchers plays a significant role in achieving these objectives. Therefore, this study applies a multicriteria mathematical programming model to optimize land use, considering water use, profit, labor, and cost. The model was applied to three farmer groups located in Greece and proved to be valuable in the implementation of irrigation water use. Using the same methodology, two additional cases of farmer groups that utilize drylands are presented in complementary ways to investigate how the new CAP affects non-irrigated land uses. Regarding the irrigated case, reducing water usage involves decreasing the land dedicated to crops characterized by high water demand, such as rice, corn, vetch, and clover. This adjustment stems from the necessity to replace irrigated land with non-irrigated land because climate change demands low water consumption for crops and underscores the importance of the new policy framework to promote sustainable agriculture. As for the non-irrigated case, achieving optimal farm planning entails reducing the cultivated areas of vetch, grassland, and sunflower. This result is driven by the need to increase crops receiving primary subsidies, highlighting the necessity for non-irrigated farms to enhance their profitability through the benefits provided by the Common Agricultural Policy. Lastly, it is important to note that this study significantly contributes to guiding decision-makers in achieving alternative agricultural land uses and farm plans while also aiding in the comprehension of the new cross-compliance rules. Full article

Analyzing the change trend of urban green space (UGS) and exploring related driving forces can provide scientific reference for sustainable development in rapidly urbanizing areas. However, the spatial and temporal driving mechanisms of the drivers on UGS patterns at different scales are still not deeply understood. Based on the GlobeLand30 land cover data, nighttime lighting data and spatial statistics from 2000 to 2020, this study analyzed the size, shape and diversity of UGS in Guangzhou at the urban level, gradient level and township level with multiple landscape indices. Diversity means the richness of UGS patch types. The selected indices include percent of landscape (PLAND), largest path index (LPI), landscape shape index (LSI), aggregation index (AI) and Shannon’s diversity index (SHDI). The spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the drivers was then explored using the spatiotemporal weighted regression (GTWR) method. Results showed the following: (1) During 2000−2020, the total amount of UGS in Guangzhou increased slightly and then decreased gradually. UGS was mainly transferred into artificial surfaces (lands modified by human activities). (2) The UGS landscape showed a non-linear trend along the urban–rural gradient and fluctuated more in the interval of 20–60% urbanization level. PLAND, LPI and AI decreased significantly in areas with higher levels of urbanization. LSI increased and SHDI decreased significantly in areas with lower levels of urbanization. At township level, the landscape indices showed significant spatial autocorrelation. They transformed from discrete changes at the edge and at the junction of the administrative district to large-scale aggregated change, especially in northern areas. (3) The size of UGSs was mainly influenced by natural factors and population density, but their shape and diversity were mainly influenced by socio-economic factors. More regular shapes of green patches were expected in higher urbanization areas. Population agglomeration positively influenced green space patterns in the northeastern and southern regions (Zengcheng, Conghua and Nansha). Meanwhile the negative influence of urban expansion on the green space pattern in the central and southern regions decreased over time. This study contributes to an in-depth understanding of how the key factors affect the different changes of UGS with time and space and provides methodological support for the long-term zoning planning and management of UGS. Full article

The integration of steel fibers into high-strength concrete (HSC) offers a solution to address the brittleness and limited ductility typically associated with conventional HSC structures. To investigate the bonding properties between shaped steel and high-strength concrete with steel fiber (SFRC), thirteen tests of the shaped steel/SFRC specimens are conducted to explore the effects of various factors such as steel fiber volume ratio, concrete strength grade, reinforcement ratio, steel embedment depth, and cover thickness on bond–slip behavior. Three distinct failure modes, such as pushout failure, bond splitting, and yielding failure of steel, are identified during the pushout tests. Three different types of bond strength, such as the initial bond strength, the ultimate bond strength, and the residual bond strength, are observed from the load–slip curves between the shaped steel and concrete. By incorporating nonlinear spring elements, a numerical model for accurately simulating the bond performance between the shaped steel and SFRC specimens is developed. The bond strength between the shaped steel and concrete increase as the concrete strength, cover thickness, steel fiber volume ratio, and stirrup ratio increase, while it decreases as the steel embedment depth increases. A model for the bond strength between shaped steel and SFRC is developed, and it agrees well with the test data. Full article

The issue of sustainability has once again received attention and promotion in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. Countries worldwide have launched returnable cup services for beverages, such as Taiwan, which is a highly developed market for hand-shaken drinks, and various beverage and convenience stores have been gradually launching this service. However, reasonable usage rates have yet to be achieved. This study aimed to explore the psychological cognition of using a returnable cups service by understanding the motivation affecting the behavior intention through external and internal influencing and categorizing realistic cognition, which observes the motivating factors from three perspectives: passively acquired awareness, autonomous consciousness, and perception in real life for further achieving environmental sustainability. Research found that when consumers’ environmental awareness is insufficient to sacrifice convenience, it is necessary to employ a service strategy design for passive influence. The focal point for influencing consumer attitudes lies in the backend of services, particularly in cup return, which is the chain-closing juncture. The result can provide the beverage industry and governments with a reference to promote returnable cups and contribute to plastic reduction in sustainable development. Full article

Hymedesmiidae is one of the largest families of marine sponges and stands out as an exceptional source of variable metabolites with diverse biological activities. In this study, the ethyl acetate fraction (HE) of a Hymedesmia sp. marine sponge from the Red Sea, Egypt, was analyzed for the first time using Ultra-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) analysis. The analysis tentatively identified 29 compounds in this fraction, including the isolation and identification of six compounds (two pyrimidine nucleosides, one purine, and two pyrimidine bases in addition to one cerebroside) for the first time. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by 1D and 2D NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), MS (mass spectrometry), and IR (infrared) spectroscopy. Furthermore, the cytotoxic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of the ethyl acetate fraction were evaluated in vitro. The fraction exhibited strong DPPH scavenging activity with an IC₅₀ of 78.7 µg/mL, compared to ascorbic acid as a positive control with an IC₅₀ of 10.6 µg/mL. It also demonstrated significant cytotoxic activity with IC₅₀ values of 13.5 µg/mL and 25.3 µg/mL against HCT-116 and HEP-2 cell lines, respectively, compared to vinblastine as a positive control with IC₅₀ values of 2.34 µg/mL and 6.61 µg/mL against HCT-116 and HEP-2, respectively. Additionally, the ethyl acetate fraction displayed promising antibacterial activity against S. aureus with a MIC value of 62.5 µg/mL, compared to ciprofloxacin as a positive control with MIC values of 1.56 µg/mL for Gram-positive bacteria and 3.125 µg/mL for Gram-negative bacteria. It also exhibited activity against E. coli and P. aeruginosa with MIC values of 250 µg/mL and 500 µg/mL, respectively. Briefly, this is the first report on the biological activities and secondary metabolite content of the ethyl acetate fraction of Hymedesmia sp. marine sponge, emphasizing the potential for further research against resistant bacterial and fungal strains, as well as different cancer cell lines. The ethyl acetate fraction of Hymedesmia sp. is a promising source of safe and unique natural drugs with potential therapeutic and pharmaceutical benefits. Full article

Short glass fibers are generally used in posterior dental restorations to enhance the mechanical properties and improve the material microstructure. Two resin-based composites (S0 and SF) were formulated and characterized to investigate the influence of zirconium in their characteristics and properties. The organic part of the investigated materials was the same (BisGMA, TEGDMA, and a photochemical polymerization system), and in the inorganic part, besides quart, glassA, and hydroxylapatite with Zn, sample S0 contained strontium glass with zirconium and sample SF contained fiber powder of chopped zirconium. The samples were characterized by the degree of conversion (DC), mechanical properties, water sorption (WS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) before and after the WS test, and antimicrobial properties. The results obtained were subjected to one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s statistical tests. Both samples had a high DC. Regarding the mechanical properties, both samples were very similar, except DTS, which was higher for the composite without fibers. After 14 days, the WS value of the SF sample was lower than that of the S0 sample. Water caused significant changes in the topography of the SF sample, but thanks to its antimicrobial properties and the diffusion phenomenon, SF had a more pronounced antimicrobial effect. This study shows that the addition of appropriate amounts of Sr-Zr-glass powder gives the material in which it is added similar properties to material containing chopped zirconium glass fiber powder. According to the antimicrobial test results, resin composites containing experimental zirconia fillings can be considered in future in vitro clinical studies for posterior reconstructions with significantly improved mechanical properties. Full article

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23 is a phosphaturic hormone. An association between increasing FGF-23 levels and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) was documented in cats, dogs, and humans. The information regarding reference intervals (RIs) of FGF-23 in cats is limited. We aimed to establish RIs in a large cohort of clinically healthy cats and to investigate correlations with sex and age. A total of 118 cats with unremarkable complete blood count and serum chemistry profile were included. Clinically sick cats, cats with concurrent diseases, suspicion of CKD, or receiving renal diets were excluded. FGF-23 concentrations were measured with the FGF-23 ELISA Kit. RIs were calculated using the reference interval advisor software 2.1 (Microsoft Excel). FGF-23 concentrations were correlated with sex and age. The RI for FGF-23 concentrations spanned 85.8 to 387.0 pg/mL (90% confidence interval: lower limit 40.5 to 103.9 pg/mL, upper limit: 354.6 to 425.0 pg/mL). No significant relationships (r² = 0.044) were detected with age (p = 0.081) or sex (p = 0.191). Other studies of the same diagnostic assay calculated RIs of 56 to 700 pg/mL in 79 cats and < 336 pg/mL in 108 cats, and in concordance with the present study, did not detect any correlation with sex or age. Full article

A new iron(III) complex (Et₃NH)₂[Fe(L)₂](ClO₄)·MeOH (1) where H₂L = 2-{(E)-[2-hydroxyphenyl)imino]methyl}phenol has been synthesised and characterised by single crystal XRD, elemental analysis and DC magnetic susceptibility measurements. The dianionic ligands L²⁻ coordinate in a tridentate fashion with the Fe(III) through their deprotonated phenolic oxygens and azomethine nitrogen atoms, resulting in a trans-FeO₄N₂ chromophore. Variable-temperature magnetic measurements were performed between 300 and 5 K under an applied field of 0.1 T and show that 1 is in the high spin state (S = 5/2) over the whole measured temperature range. This is confirmed by Mössbauer spectroscopy at 77 and 300 K. Full article

When discussing “wartime ephemera”, of the kind that has been passed down through families since the Second World War, Germany and Austria could be considered as a counterexample to Britain. In German and Austrian historical memory, “wartime” cannot be separated from pre-war Nazi society (beginning in 1933 and 1938, respectively). Moreover, what we might loosely call the “Antiques Roadshow experience”—discussing family objects from the Second World War in a sympathetic public forum—has never been open to the majority of Germans and Austrians, who were rather inclined to hide and forget such objects in the family home. Even so, mundane Nazi-era objects survived in their millions and this essay discusses their display in German and Austrian history museums. There, they serve to illustrate a history of mentalities during and after the Nazi regime. Austrian museums are currently playing a proactive role in the transfer of objects from the private, family archive to public, cultural memory. This article considers how notions of “family” are constructed in museum discourse and asks how the millions of German and Austrian citizens and residents with no family connection to the Second World War can be included in a form of national family storytelling that arguably “re-ethnicizes” memory. Full article

Drawing on Asian adoptee-authored research, this article conceptualizes a critical adoptee standpoint. It underscores the significance of adoptees as knowledge producers and offers new insights into family dynamics, racialization processes, and adoptee personhood. Through three conceptual themes derived from adoptee-authored research, it illuminates the intersectional power dynamics shaping adoptees’ lived experiences and challenges traditional adoption narratives. This approach repositions adoptees as agentic subjects who have cultivated a group consciousness that transcends traditional boundaries of belonging. While focused on Asian adoptees, the essay ultimately calls for broader recognition of adoptees’ contributions to adoption discourse and a more comprehensive understanding of a critical adoptee standpoint in both academic and advocacy settings and among the broader adoptee population. Full article

The disassembly of spent lithium batteries is a prerequisite for efficient product recycling, the first link in remanufacturing, and its operational form has gradually changed from traditional manual disassembly to robot-assisted human–robot cooperative disassembly. Robots exhibit robust load-bearing capacity and perform stable repetitive tasks, while humans possess subjective experiences and tacit knowledge. It makes the disassembly activity more adaptable and ergonomic. However, existing human–robot collaborative disassembly studies have neglected to account for time-varying human conditions, such as safety, cognitive behavior, workload, and human pose shifts. Firstly, in order to overcome the limitations of existing research, we propose a model for balancing human–robot collaborative disassembly lines that take into consideration the load factor related to human involvement. This entails the development of a multi-objective mathematical model aimed at minimizing both the cycle time of the disassembly line and its associated costs while also aiming to reduce the integrated smoothing exponent. Secondly, we propose a modified multi-objective fruit fly optimization algorithm. The proposed algorithm combines chaos theory and the global cooperation mechanism to improve the performance of the algorithm. We add Gaussian mutation and crowding distance to efficiently solve the discrete optimization problem. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness and sensitivity of the improved multi-objective fruit fly optimization algorithm by solving and analyzing an example of Mercedes battery pack disassembly. Full article

To address the issues of low model accuracy caused by complex ground environments and uneven target scales and high computational complexity in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aerial infrared image target detection, this study proposes a lightweight UAV aerial infrared small target detection algorithm called PHSI-RTDETR. Initially, an improved backbone feature extraction network is designed using the lightweight RPConv-Block module proposed in this paper, which effectively captures small target features, significantly reducing the model complexity and computational burden while improving accuracy. Subsequently, the HiLo attention mechanism is combined with an intra-scale feature interaction module to form an AIFI-HiLo module, which is integrated into a hybrid encoder to enhance the focus of the model on dense targets, reducing the rates of missed and false detections. Moreover, the slimneck-SSFF architecture is introduced as the cross-scale feature fusion architecture of the model, utilizing GSConv and VoVGSCSP modules to enhance adaptability to infrared targets of various scales, producing more semantic information while reducing network computations. Finally, the original GIoU loss is replaced with the Inner-GIoU loss, which uses a scaling factor to control auxiliary bounding boxes to speed up convergence and improve detection accuracy for small targets. The experimental results show that, compared to RT-DETR, PHSI-RTDETR reduces model parameters by 30.55% and floating-point operations by 17.10%. Moreover, detection precision and speed are increased by 3.81% and 13.39%, respectively, and mAP50, impressively, reaches 82.58%, demonstrating the great potential of this model for drone infrared small target detection. Full article

Longan fruit generally undergoes rapid quality deterioration during the postharvest stage, with the manifestation of flavor loss as well as pronounced off-odor production. Nevertheless, the unapparent aroma makes people ignore the odor change in postharvest longan. Sensory analysis serves as an indispensable method combining instrumental detection and the perceptibility of human sensation in a comprehensive evaluation of quality during production and consumption. In this study, we established the evaluating data of the appearance, flavor, taste substances, volatile profiles, and deterioration of ‘Shixia’ longan throughout room-temperature storage using instrument assessment and descriptive measurements. Our results indicated that both the appearance state and the taste condition notably engendered confusion or trouble for consumers to judge under the quality transition period. Conversely, the development of odor was highly consistent with that of quality deterioration. Some unpleasant volatile substances including alcohol (ethanol), acid (acetic acid), and esters (acetic acid methyl ester and ethyl acetate) were probably the cause of off-odor during the storage. The result of the sensory evaluation also presents a more significant relevance between the overall quality and the odor. Generally, the work paved the way to reveal the importance of odor profiles for assessing the comprehensive quality condition of postharvest room-temperature stored longan. Full article

The objective of this study was to assess the relationship of ACS with neonatal outcomes among very preterm infants born to mothers with clinical chorioamnionitis in China. This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study. Study participants included infants born at <32 weeks’ gestation with clinical chorioamnionitis and registered in the Chinese Neonatal Network from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020. Infants were divided into two groups: any amount of ACS or no administration of ACS. Multivariable generalized linear models using generalized estimating equations were used to assess the association between ACS and neonatal outcomes among the study population. We identified 2193 infants eligible for this study; 1966 (89.6%) infants had received ACS therapy, and 227 (10.4%) had not received any ACS therapy. Among very preterm infants born to mothers with clinical chorioamnionitis, any ACS usage was significantly associated with decreased risks of early death (aRR 0.56, 95% CI 0.32, 0.99) and severe ROP (aRR 0.51, 95% CI 0.28, 0.93) after adjustment for maternal hypertension, gestational age at birth, Caesarean section, being inborn, and administration of systemic antibiotics to the mother within 24 h before birth. In addition, out of the 2193 infants, the placentas of 1931 infants underwent pathological examination with recorded results. Subsequently, 1490 of these cases (77.2%) were diagnosed with histological chorioamnionitis. In 1490 cases of histologic chorioamnionitis, any ACS usage was significantly related to decreased risks of overall mortality (aRR 0.52, 95% CI 0.31, 0.87), severe ROP (aRR 0.47, 95% CI 0.25, 0.97), and respiratory distress syndrome (aRR 0.52, 95% CI 0.31, 0.87). We concluded that any ACS was associated with reduced risks for neonatal early death and severe ROP among very preterm infants born to mothers with clinical chorioamnionitis. Full article

Background and aim: First, to compare somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) in preterm newborns without major brain injury studied at term equivalent age (TEA) with a term historical control group. Second, to investigate the impact of pain exposure during the first 28 days after birth on SEPs. Third, to evaluate the association between SEPs and Bayley-III at 2 years corrected age (CA). Methods: Infants born at <32 weeks’ gestational age (GA) were studied with continuous-SEPs. First, SEP differences between preterm and term infants were analyzed. Second, regression analyses were conducted to explore the association between SEPs and painful procedures, and then between SEPs and neurodevelopment. Results: 86 preterm infants were prospectively enrolled. Preterm infants exhibited prolonged N1 latencies, central conduction time (CCT), lower N1-P1 amplitudes, and more recurrently abnormal SEPs compared to term infants. Higher pain exposure predicted longer N1 latency and slower CCT (all p < 0.005), adjusting for clinical risk factors. Younger GA and postmenstrual age (PMA) at SEP recording were associated with longer N1 latency and lower N1-P1 amplitude (all p < 0.005). A normal SEP at TEA positively predicted cognitive outcome at 2 years CA (p < 0.005). Conclusion: Pain exposure and prematurity were risk factors for altered SEP parameters at TEA. SEPs predicted cognitive outcome. Full article

One of the most crucial tasks of pediatric dentists is to control children’s negative behaviors. This study aimed to assess dental behavior and the associated risk factors among children aged 4–12. This cross-sectional study recruited healthy, unaffected children aged 4 to 12 years. Parents were interviewed regarding the sociodemographic details and characteristics of their children’s dental visits. Two collaborative dentists examined the children for dental caries (DMFT/DMFT) and behavioral status (Frankl’s behavior rating scale). This study included 439 children: 27.3% exhibited uncooperative behavior, and the mean DMFT/dmft was 8.46 ± 3.530. Uncooperative behavior significantly increased when the dental visit was scheduled as an emergency treatment (p = 0.134; Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 1.530) and when there was an elevated DMFT/DMFT ratio (p < 0.001; AOR: 1.308). This study revealed a significant association between children’s uncooperative behavior and their first dental visit, emphasizing the need for tailored strategies to address behavioral challenges when scheduling pediatric dental care. The proactive measures included controlling caries and avoiding emergencies. Full article

Introduction: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition in children in Saudi Arabia. ADHD significantly impacts children and their families, particularly by increasing parental stress and diminishing quality of life. In Saudi Arabia, there is a research gap regarding the quality of life and coping mechanisms of parents managing children with ADHD. This study assesses levels of depression and anxiety, quality of life, and coping strategies among parents of children diagnosed with ADHD. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey with 151 parents of ADHD-diagnosed children, utilizing the WHOQOL-Brief for life quality, the Brief-COPE for coping strategies, and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) for depression (PHQ9-9 items) and generalized anxiety (GAD7-7 items) modules. Results: Among the parents surveyed, 36% reported moderate to severe depression, while 39.1% experienced moderate to high anxiety levels. Quality of life was significantly positively correlated with higher household monthly income (HHI), employment status, sibling count, and effective coping strategies. Conversely, a parent’s age, educational level, and, in particular, maternal status were inversely related to anxiety levels, with fathers displaying higher maladaptive coping scores. Conclusion: This study sheds light on the considerable anxiety and depression experienced by parents of children with ADHD, significantly affecting their quality of life. Lower quality of life among parents is associated with high levels of depression, anxiety, and ineffective coping strategies. These insights highlight the critical need for interventions to aid parental mental health, thereby improving their overall quality of life amidst ADHD challenges. Full article